Ombuds Office

The Barnard College Ombuds Office is available as a campus-wide resource to assist students, faculty and staff.

The Ombuds Office provides a confidential and informal environment in which possible options for dealing with variety of Barnard-related issues and concerns can be explored. As a confidential and impartial third party, the Ombuds Office is a uniquely positioned, independent resource within the College.

The ombuds apprise Barnard’s leadership of general issues and trends that members of the community may be experiencing. All data maintained by the Ombuds Office are non-identifiable and anonymous, following the office’s standards of confidentiality.

The Ombuds Office is an independent, impartial, neutral and confidential resource for faculty and staff and is a member of the International Ombudsman Association and adheres to its Standards of Practice and to its Code of Ethics.

The Barnard College Ombuds Office is available as a campus-wide resource to assist students, faculty and staff.

The Ombuds Office provides a confidential and informal environment in which possible options for dealing with variety of Barnard-related issues and concerns can be explored. As a confidential and impartial third party, the Ombuds Office is a uniquely positioned, independent resource within the College.

The Ombuds Office provides a confidential and informal environment in which faculty and staff can discuss a variety of issues related to Barnard College, except for matters covered by a union, and for students to discuss issues related to a faculty and/or staff member.

Listen to concerns

Help you evaluate your situation

Explain College policies and procedures

Explore your options

Assist you to develop strategies for resolving conflicts

Engage in informal conflict resolution (only with your permission)

Facilitate conversations

Mediate disputes

Provide information and referrals

Analyze ongoing or College-wide trends and issues

The office won't:

Disclose any information shared, except if we believe that disclosure is necessary to address an imminent risk of serious harm to you or someone else

Report anything to anyone; including the Title IX coordinator

Conduct formal investigations

Adjudicate a matter or change a Barnard College policy

Note: The Ombuds Office is not an office of notice: what is shared with the Ombuds Office will remain confidential and will not put Barnard College on legal notice.